Via Crucis in the chestnut forest of Biasca

The route starts from the parking lot of the present parish church of San Carlo (early 19th century), where just looking up towards the mountain reveals the striking mass of the Romanesque church of SS. Peter and Paul (12th-13th century), the former parish church, reachable within a few minutes by following hiking signs via a steep stone staircase. The key can be found in the church of S. Carlo.

After visiting the church, take the 'Via Crucis' which begins beside the old 19th-century cemetery. It is a structure of remarkable scenic value, consisting of 14 chapels set in a beautiful chestnut forest, built in 1742 and restored in 1998. The land of the chestnut forest is owned by the Biasca patriciate. The chestnut trees, registered and numbered, have been assigned to individual owners. The fruits of the trees belong to them. Shortly after the seventh chapel, towards the mountain, there is a rock outcrop on top of which are still traces (a channel) of the ancient aqueduct that carried water from the 'Froda' (meaning waterfall in the local dialect) to Biasca; finally, between the tenth and eleventh chapel, uphill, there is a massive dry stone wall delimiting the area of an old granite quarry; at the end of the route is a beautiful stone bridge over the 'Froda' that gives access to the 17th-century oratory of Santa Petronilla (early 17th century; for keys call the Parish of Biasca, tel. 091 862/17 02). It should be remembered that on a short plateau above the oratory, reachable via a steep path near the gorge of the stream, the few remains of the so-called 'Orelli Castle' can still be seen.

The itinerary concludes by following the road that leads back to the parish church of San Carlo.